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Find the exercise dress for any occasion or activity. one shoulder floral dress
When you think "exercise dress," visions of pristine white tennis or golf outfits might come to mind. But exercise dresses have come a long way in recent years, blending function with fashion to provide a wide variety of versatile options beyond playing tennis or golf. Available in various colors and styles, many exercise dresses have built-in shorts and bra options for added support. Plus, they’re made with high-performance material suitable for many different types of workouts and activities.
With so many options available on the market, how can you possibly choose? Laura Haver, USPTA tennis coach, former beach tennis professional, and play advocate, says finding the right exercise dress all comes down to what's most important to you. "When selecting an exercise dress, personal preference is paramount," she says. "Above all else, choose a dress that you feel extremely comfortable in — especially while working out." Whether you're looking for an exercise dress that'll keep up with you on your next run, an ultra-comfy dress to lounge in, or something versatile enough to wear from workout to hang out, these are the best exercise dresses we've found with our extensive research.
Why We Like It: Comfortable, stylish, versatile, and adjustable — everything you could want in an exercise dress.
It's Worth Noting: The material is on the thinner side but still provides enough support for a workout.
Considered a must-have wardrobe staple, it's easy to see why so many people love this exercise dress from Outdoor Voices — and why it won the title of best exercise dress from our Fitness Awards. For starters, it's extremely stylish and fits well on various body types. It's also incredibly comfortable, made from lightweight, breathable fabric that dries quickly and moves freely during activities. Featuring adjustable straps and a built-in shorts liner, this dress also has two pockets large enough to store your tennis or golf ball. Though this dress is a solid option for lighter workouts, you may want to opt for an exercise dress with thicker material for more intense exercise.
I’m up to six exercise dresses from Outdoor Voices, and they’re my summer uniform. I’ve worn one for everything from boxing to farmer’s market visits. The adjustable straps are easy to reach and tweak, and the built-in shorts also have grippers under the hem that really add functionality.
Why We Like It: Affordable, comfortable, and cute at a price you can't beat.
It's Worth Noting: This dress runs small. We recommend ordering a size up.
This exercise dress from Halara is ultra-soft, made from Halara's "Cloudful" fabric, which is appropriately named. We love the cross-back straps and built-in bra — especially since it's removable in case you'd rather go without a sports bra or wear your own. We wish it had adjustable straps since the dress tends to run on the shorter, smaller side.
Why We Like It: The open-back built-in shorts are nothing short of genius.
It’s Worth Noting: Pay a little extra attention when pulling it on, or else your legs might not make it into the shorts.
Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt naked and afraid in a bar bathroom because you had to pull your exercise dress down to your ankles. All of us? Okay, good. That’s a thing of the past with the Lululemon Align Dress, which Geil says may be her best find of the year. Here’s why: The built-in shorts have an open-back design, so you can pull them down juuuuuust enough to use the facilities. They still connect in the front of the dress, so it’s technically a one-piece item — but with two-piece functionality. Plus, it comes in Lululemon’s signature soft Align fabric. We’re so in.
I’m planning to wear this exercise dress all fall and winter long. Thanks to the open-back shorts, I can easily pop a sweater on top of this exercise dress and use the bathroom without taking my arms out of the sleeves and stripping down — a total no-go when the temps start to drop and I’m already chilly.
Why We Like It: Size inclusive and super transitional, this dress can be worn for a workout or date night out.
It's Worth Noting: This dress runs from XXS-6XL for maximum inclusivity for all size body frames.
At first glance, the Naomi workout dress from Girlfriend Collective looks similar to a classic LBD. Not only is this exercise dress stylish, but there's also the option to buy the dress with a compressive inner lining for high-impact workouts. Not planning on rocking this dress during a workout? The lightweight Float fabric liner provides softer support.
What We Like: The easy-to-pull-down back for bathroom breaks.
It's Worth Noting: This does not have a built-in bra.
Between the easy-bathroom-access back, refined pleats, and loose fit, the Spanx Yes, Pleats! dress quickly became one of our most-worn dresses this summer. The material is moisture-wicking but looks less athletic than some of the other options on our list. The thick straps make it easy to hide a bra; however, this dress does not have a built-in bra or cups, not even a shelf one.
This dress had a compressive underlayer but a loose, flowy top one that helps this dress stay comfortable and ideal for on and off-court activities.
Why We Like It: Built-in shorts and ultra-breathable fabric make this dress a no-brainer for comfort and support.
It's Worth Noting: Recommended for light-to-medium workouts.
Built-in shorts are only useful if they're comfortable. This exercise dress from Alo features the softest, most breathable built-in shorts on the market, thanks to the brand's velvety Alosoft material blend. We love the fun, trendy colors the dress comes in, along with staples like black, white, and heather grey. Be sure to only wash the dress on a cold cycle with like colors to avoid shrinkage and color bleeding.
Why We Like It: The built-in bra eliminated our need to double-layer.
It’s Worth Noting: The mesh is prone to snagging in the washer and dryer.
If you simply cannot be bothered to wear a bra and an exercise dress, give the Outdoor Voices Doing Things Dress a shot. The built-in shelf bra has removable padding (and a full bodysuit liner for extra coverage) and offers medium support with non-adjustable racerback straps. The sporty dress is extra moisture-wicking too, with a breathable mesh racerback design. However, Geil does note that the mesh has gotten a little torn up in the washer and dryer (and fully acknowledges that she should probably be more conscientious about washing on gentle and air-drying). The removable pads are also prone to shift in the wash, so be prepared to adjust them before wear.
I reach for this dress frequently. The fabric is so, so soft — I’m such a fan of the comfort.
Why We Like It: This dress looks great on its own but can be styled up or dressed down for just about any occasion.
It's Worth Noting: This dress fits true to size and comes in three different length options.
Sizes: XXS-XXL, Petite, Regular, Tall
Truly a dress for any occasion, the Abercrombie Traveler Mini Dress is aptly named. Wear it on a morning hike, take it sightseeing in a new city, or kick back and relax while wearing it around the house. With several different color options to choose from, the possibilities are endless. We love the adjustable straps and appreciate the different length options that ensure a perfect, personalized fit.
Why We Like It: The material didn’t show an ounce of sweat during our tests.
It’s Worth Noting: The built-in shorts are a little short and rode up.
For an alternative to tennis skirts, we love the aptly named Outdoor Voices Volley Dress. The fit-and-flare design is fun to wear on- and off-court, and we were especially impressed by the moisture-wicking material. This dress also has the necessary built-in shorts with pockets. However, they’re a little shorter than other dresses we tested with a mere 3” inseam, and Geil notes that they rode up frequently during her play.
I’ll be honest, the first time I wore this dress for a high-intensity tennis class, I expected my stomach to look drenched in sweat. I was shocked — shocked! — when, at the end of two hours, you couldn’t see a single drop of sweat on the olive green shade.
Why We Like It: The cotton/spandex fabric blend and oversized style make this dress the epitome of comfortable.
It's Worth Noting: It's only available in four colors at the time of publishing.
While all of the exercise dresses on this list are comfortable, this mini dress from Free People is a step above the rest. Incredibly soft and super lightweight, the thin shoulder straps and oversized silhouette are built for lounging while still stylish enough to wear out and about.
Why We Like It: This supportive, light compression dress features a built-in body suit layer and bra.
It's Worth Noting: This polyester/spandex blend is ultra-breathable to keep the girls supported and sweat-free.
Most built-in bra options don't cater to larger busts or frames, but this supportive dress from OldNavy rises to the challenge. The built-in bra is supportive enough for a range of busts yet stretchy enough to allow a bra to be worn underneath if desired, as the bra cups are also removable. Made of Go-Dry moisture-wicking technology, this dress is well-suited for breaking a sweat or a leisurely day out.
Some exercise dresses have a shelf bra but lack enough support for exercising. I've worn this one for tennis lessons and long walks and didn’t worry that the bounce factor was like a Baywatch running scene. The attached shorts easily prevented thigh chafe and didn’t roll up either.
Why We Like It: This fabric blend features moisture-wicking technology that works more effectively than others on this list.
It's Worth Noting: There aren't any built-in shorts on this dress.
Plenty of the best exercise dresses feature moisture-wicking technology, but the Vuori Volley Dress stands out among the rest as a fast-drying option. Whether you're taking a stroll on a hot day or heating things up on the tennis court, the signature blend of polyester and elastane will keep you dry. We wish this exercise dress had built-in shorts and a wider variety of color options.
light wash mini skirt Danielle Page has spent the past 12 years writing about health, fitness, and how to find the right product for personal needs and preferences. An avid reader and writer of reviews, she knows how to evaluate positive and critical feedback to determine the best product for the job. As an outdoor fitness enthusiast, she's passionate and well-versed in moisture-wicking materials and clothing with compression.